The Rajasthan PUCL
considers the resignation of the Chairperson of the State Human Rights Commission
and the attitude of the State Government a resounding slap on the face of Human
Rights and Democratic Institutions. The attitude of the State Government towards
the Commission left no other option to Ms. Kanda Bhatnagar, the Chairperson
the Commission but to resign. She was told to function from the Secretariat
but were shunted from rule to rule the service conditions of the members of
the Commission and their status also were not formalize. The government can't
take shelter behind the situation of crises created by famine and financial
difficulties. The Chairperson the Commission was not given the status of the
Chief Justice. So much so had the Commission members were not paid any remuneration
and not provided by facilities for working for 4 months.

Ms. Kanda Bhatnagar
resigned out of frustration.

The State Congress
was committed to the establishment of a Human Rights Commission and a Commission
for women in its manifesto because of the pressure of informed opinion in the
State, but after coming to power the government was never serious for making
them useful instruments. The State Commission for women is also similarly placed.
It is working only as a post office for forwarding the complaints to various
departments where a time even these are not maintained properly. In view of
the famine conditions, communal unrests, increasing violations of Human Rights,
and oppression of women, such attitude of the State government towards these
institutions is highly condemnable.

Post Script:

The State Government
has since done all that Justice Kanda Bhatnagar had been asking for. A DIG has
been appointed as part of the Investigative agency of the SHRC, office space
has also been provided.